Trite as this may be, we should all place the Syracuse University basketball team atop our sports Thanksgiving list right now. Because, locally, that's about all we've got.

The SU football team? It's 2-9 and headed for both 2-10 and a possible (probable?) coaching change at the top of, and throughout, the staff.

The Crunch? It's 6-12 and has accumulated more points (12) than just three of the other clubs in the 29-team American Hockey League.

Associated Press/Kevin RivoliIt's early in this holiday week, yes. All the same, though, we should probably begin to give thanks for the presence of Jonny Flynn, right, and Donte Greene in our town.

The Raging Bullz? They're 3-2 in their inaugural American Basketball Association season, sure. But already the organization is tottering as the postponement of today's scheduled home game against the Jersey Express would seem to indicate.

So that leaves Jim Boeheim's Orange . . . and has so often been the case, it has responded to the challenge/responsibility. SU is 3-0 with three impressive wins over three pretty interesting outfits (Siena, Saint Joseph's and Fordham), and the Big Two of Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene have delivered beyond the reasonable expectations of even the most demanding (i.e., craziest) of fans.

So, let's see . . .

The Syracuse football team next faces an-almost certain defeat in the form of the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Crunch next plays the rather formidable Manitoba Moose, which has the second-best record in the North Division of the AHL's Western Conference. And the Raging Bullz (who still are in desperate need of a spelling lesson) next play some group from downstate on Saturday (or maybe not).

The SU hoop team, meanwhile, is bound for Madison Square Garden in New York where Ohio State awaits on Wednesday and either Texas A&M or Washington looms on Friday.

Remember all of this when you bow your head before having at that bird on Thanksgiving Day.